Attachment for paint cans



Dec. 19, 1950 P. G. FRANK ATTACHMENT FOR PAINT CANS Filed Dec. 10, 1948 Paul 6. Frank INVENTOR.

BY MM 35%;

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 N [TED S TAT-ES PATEN T OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR T CANS "Paul Frank, Allentown, Pa.

Application December 10, 1948, Serial No. 64515 .5 Claims. 4

The invention herein -:shown and described .apertains to ash-ield or giuard type attachment ttor the :cover end of a paint can and the principal object of the invention is to .rnini-mize paint spilling and ,consequentlynto eliminate inessiness :caused by the accumulation of paint on the exterior surfaces of the can.

I am not unm-indful that many and varied styles and types zo'i paint can attachments in this line zof endeavor vhearebeen"devised and used by others. Therefore, in perfecting and bringing into use the-embodiment herein comprehended .Ihave :strived to -.provide a distinguishable type :of attachment which is .novel and distinct and characterized :by refinements :and special adaptations which, collectively considered, fulfill the requirements of manufacturers and the trade, in keeping, of course, withmy conception of such requirements.

Briefl and structurally construed, I provide a lip scha'nnel lidding ring which :efiectually covers and seals the :channel, said ring being of a cross section greater than the cross section of the channeled =l-ip or .i'lange on the :can and the outer peripheral edge of the .ring overhanging-the cor- ;responding edge of the flange, wherebyto prevent paint from dripping down.- and accumulating on theenteniorsurfaces of the can body.

Another objective is to provide a channel lidding and shielding ring which has facilities whereby same may be readily applied and removed and which, when in functioning position, is clamped and thus securely maintained in said position.

A further object has tosdo with the stated .rin'g, thesame being novelin that it 215 provided on one side with-a simple hook-like detent r'eleaseably engageable with the .channeled flange andprovided at a diametrically opposite point with a space to accommodate.efiectivelyfheld {laws on a manually actuable clamp.

Novelty, in addition to the above, is predicated upon a clamp which is carried by an upstanding splash guard, forming a part of the attachment, said splash guard serving to drain paint from paint brush bristles back into the can and, in addition carrying cross-Wise rods usable in satisfactorily scraping surplus paint from the brush that it may gravitate back into the can.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals employed designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure :1 is an elevational view of .-a conventional type paint can with the cover removed and replaced by the attachment forming the subject atter of the instant invention;

Figure :2 is a central vertical-section, with-parts inelevation, taken on the plane-of the vertical -line-2---2 of Figure 1;

Figure Basia top planviewof the structure seen Figure 1.

;:paint :can, which is conventional, ,is dene'ted "by the reference character A, the same being provided at itsupper open end or'top with a channeledlip-nange B. This is a-common type of flange and is adapted to vaccommodate a removable-cover having an annular ribaor key to :fit in the 'channelythe latter constituting-a keyway.

The attachment is characterized, broad-1y visualized, by an adapter unit .5,-an upstandin splash guard "unitwli and .a manually attachable and detachable clamping unit 1.

The adapter unit comprises a substantially flat li-dding ring :8 ,of a cross sectionwgreater than the cross section of the channeled lip flange B. The ring is provided on its inner peripheral edge'with a depending flange -9 which fits against therinner peripheral edge of flange B and assists-in holding the ring in place. Theouter overhangperipheral .edge to projects :sufiiciently far beyond .the corresponding edge of the flange, B to minimize spilling rand dripping of paint on .the vexterior surfaces of the can. The ring is of.a split type and the end portions H and :12 are spaced apart to provide an intervening s-lot or :notch. Diametrically opposite to the notch-the ring (is provided with a :hook-like clip :ordetent 11.3 which is engageable with the :fiange B, as shown in Figure The splashguard 6 .is :a suitably-bowed .pla-te it having its curvate terminal ends 15 suitably attached to the top surface of the ring. .The :plate slants inwardly and downwardly and regis 'ters with the inner peripheral edge of the .ring and thus serves {as :a sort of a drainage chute for paint which may drip from the bristles of the brush I5. It will be noted that I provide spaced parallel horizontally disposed rods or wires l1 and these are attached to the end portions of the splash guard and are spaced from the central portion and constitute effective scraping elements for raking and removing surplus paint from an overly saturated brush. By positioning the guard unit 6 at the point indicated and close to the spaced ends I l and I2 of the ring the latter provides a highly satisfactory mount for the clamp unit 1. The clamp unit structurally resembles a conventional-type clothes pin and embodies complemental members terminating in the jaws l8 and IS. A spring serves to connect the clamp members and the upper ends of same, denoted at 2| and 22, constitute fingerpieces and serve to spread the jaws apart against tension of the spring means 20. One member of the clamp is securely fastened to the intermediate portion of the splash shield and the jaws are arranged to locate themselves in the space between the spaced ends H and I2. Consequently, they are in position to satisfactorily grip inner and outer peripheral edge portions of the flange B as shown in Figure 2. I know of no prior art device using a clamp unit I with its jaw portions resting in a space between the split ends of a shielding ring and carried by the plate portion of a splash guard, the finger-pieces rising to a plane above the upper edge portion of the splash guard where, they are available for convenient use.

In addition to the above I desire to stress the projecting edge In serving as a sort of a paint spilling ledge to prevent overflow of paint onto the surfaces of the can, the hook clip I3 being opposite diametrically of the space between the ring ends H and [2. It will be noted too that flange 9 is on the inner peripheral edge of the ring and that there is no flange on the outer edge to interfere with application and removal of the ring. Thus, the flange 9 centers the ring 8 and enables same to serve as an effective lid or seal for the channeled flange B.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty suflicient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A paint can drip shield attachment of the style shown and described comprising a ring for lidding over and covering the keying channel in a can lip flange, said rin being provided on its inner peripheral edge with a depending hooktype detent releasably connectible with the inner peripheral edge of said lip flange and further having an upstanding finger actuable clamp diametrically opposite to said detent, said ring being split and providing a flange exposing and clamp adaptin space for accommodation and facility of operation of the jaws of said clamp.

2. A paint can drip shield attachment of the style shown and described comprising a ring for lidding over and covering the keying channel in a can lip flange, said ring being split and having its split ends spaced apart, a clothes-pin clamp 4 embodying spring held flange gripping jaws and finger-pieces for opening said jaws, and a splash guard mounted on said ring adjacent to said spaced ends, said clamp being rigidly mounted on said guard with its jaws situated and functioning in said space.

3. A paint can drip shield attachment of the style shown and described comprising a fiat ring adapted to lid over and cover the keying channel in a can lip flange, a splash guard anchored on and rising vertically above said ring, spaced parallel horizontal cross-rods attached to and spanning the inward side of splash guard and adapted to serve as brush scraping elements, said ring being split and said split ends being spaced apart to expose a portion of the lip flange, and clamp mounted on the outward side of said splash guard and having gripping jaws operable in the space between said split ends.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, together with a depending lip flange engaging hook-shaped detent on .the inner peripheral edge of said ring said detent being diametrically opposite to the jaws of said clamp.

5. A paint can attachment of the type shown and described comprising a flat ring adapted to lid over and thus cover the channel of the usual overhanging lip flange on a paint can, said ring having an endless depending flange on its inner peripheral edge adapted to bear against a coacting inner edge of said lip flange and having in addition a detent hook on said depending flange to releasably engage said lip flange, said ring being of a cross-section greater than said lip flange and the outer peripheral edge being flangeless and adapted to project beyond and overhang the outer peripheral edge of said lip flange, an arcuately bowed plate, attached to and rising vertically from said ring, inclining inwardly toward the inner peripheral edge of the latter and serving as a splash guard and drainage chute, said plate being diametrically opposite to said hook and provided on its inward chute surface with horizontal scraping wires, and provided on its outward surface with means adapted to releasably grip said lip flange and to thus assist in holding the ring in position for use.

PAUL G. FRANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

